Every six months or so, your leather upholstery should be cleaned with a mixture of water and mild facial soap (such as Dove or Neutrogena); wash and rinse thoroughly with soft cloth, paying special attention to arm rests and head rests where body oils tend to discolor fabric.

When washing leather upholstery, it is best to use distilled water to avoid discoloration from any chemical contaminants (such as chlorine) that might exist in tap water.

After washing and rinsing, buff your upholstery with a clean white cloth to restore luster.

Periodically you can revive your furniture a mixture of 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts linseed oil. Use a clean white cloth to apply the mixture in a circular motion. Allow it to set for 10 minutes then buff with a clean cloth. You may need to buff the furniture twice before sitting on it.

Using a leather protectant (available at most furniture stores) will help keep your leather upholstery looking its best.

Wipe up spills immediately or they may soak into the fiber of your upholstery and will be harder to remove.

NEVER use any kind of oils (such as mink oil), furniture polish, or any product containing waxes or silicone (including many car care products) on leather furniture as it may damage the leather and leave it feeling sticky. Consequently be very careful when using Pledge, or any other type of furniture polish, around your leather pieces.

Generally, it is not good to use saddle soap, varnish, ammonia-based cleaners (i.e. Windex) or bleach on leather, all of which may be too harsh, causing serious damage or discoloration.

Comments

Evan,
Olive oil, like most oils, soaks into the back of the leather, which can cause the leather to deteriorate (and cause cracking), as well as to become sticky, and the oil can also resurface later as a stain. However, according to Wikipedia, “Most applications of linseed oil exploit its drying properties, i.e., the initial material is liquid or at least pliable and the aged material is rigid but not brittle.”
Source: Wikipedia – Linseed Oil
Source: Fibrenew – Do not use olive oil to fix your leather!
Source: Fibrenew – Cracked Leather
Source: Crafterhours – Leather & Olive Oil